Monolithic slotted drain

ABSTRACT

A monolithic slotted drain system that utilizes monolithic drain segments formed from pre-cast, steel-reinforced concrete having a molded passageway therein into which fluids are directed via a slot opening.

CITATION TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority for purposes of this application to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/655,608, entitled “Monolithic Slotted Drain” and filed Apr. 10, 2019.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a monolithic slotted drain for installation in concrete paving.

Description of the Prior Art

Traditional prior art drainage systems often utilize corrugated metal pipes. The metal pipes are cut along their lengths to form an opening that is closed around a slotted grate assembly.

This process results in reduced structural integrity of the pipe itself with particular weakness where the pipe has been joined to the slotted grate assembly. In some cases, the grate assembly may become disconnected from the pipe after installation due to ground shifting. Further disadvantages of prior art systems include the reduced flow rate for water inherent to the use of corrugated pipes. Additionally, because of their use of metal piping, many of these systems suffer from rust corrosion and risk zinc leakage into ground water.

Regarding installation of prior art systems, the pipe and grate assembly must be held in place while concrete is poured around them. Although seemingly simple, installation is still challenging due to buoyancy effects that may cause the pipe and grate assembly to shift while pouring the concrete unless sufficiently restrained with additional support structures. Alternatively, prior art systems may not be fully encased in concrete instead being backfilled with various materials and having concrete poured on only the top six to twelve inches. This methodology; however, presents its own different risks. In such installations, ground shifting below the pipe and grate assembly may result in the grate assembly protruding out of, or sinking further into, the paving—either of which may not only impact drain performance but also pose a safety hazard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide for a monolithic slotted drain formed from precast concrete segments.

The monolithic slotted drain segments of the present invention addresses the above-mentioned problems, limitations, and unmet desires experienced with prior art approaches to slotted rains.

The present invention improves upon the prior art and addresses the various disadvantages discussed herein through utilization of pre-cast, monolithic drainage system segments with interlocking ends configured to be secured to other segments. In some embodiments, each segment is formed of pre-cast, steel-reinforced concrete molded into a monolithic body.

Unlike prior art systems, the present invention is designed to withstand higher loading conditions (including HS-20 traffic, aircraft loading, etc.) by incorporating the prior art's slotted throat section directly into the drain—making it a structural element of the pre-cast monolithic segment and eliminating the weak connection of prior art pipe and throat assemblies. Furthermore, by moving away from metal-lined pipes, the present design avoids corrosion and zinc-leakage concerns.

Installation of the present invention's interlocking, monolithic segments is faster, simpler, and cheaper than that of prior art systems as many of the challenges facing prior art drain assemblies are absent—including the need to secure pipe and throat assemblies during the concrete pouring process to prevent unwanted shifting caused by buoyancy effects. Additionally, the present invention's use of an interior volume defined by pre-cast, molded concrete walls without the need for separate piping further reduces costs while utilizing comparable volumes of concrete as compared to prior art approaches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a monolithic slotted drain segment of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a monolithic slotted drain segment of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view a monolithic slotted drain segment of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is perspective view of two interlocking monolithic slotted drain segments of one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This description, with reference to the figures, presents non-limiting examples of embodiments of the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the monolithic slotted drain comprises a first monolithic drain segment as shown in FIG. 1.

Demonstrated by FIG. 3, this first monolithic drain segment may comprise a drain body 310, a passageway 320 within and defined by said drain body, and a slot opening 330 that runs along the length of said drain body and provides access to said passageway from the exterior of said drain body.

In certain embodiments, the drain body 310 may be composed of steel-reinforced concrete that is pre-cast and molded to create a monolithic structure that includes both the slot opening 330 and passageway 320. Through this process, the need for interior piping is avoided as an interior volume of the drain body is accessible via the slot opening 330, and the passageway 320 allows for fluid travel along the length of the monolithic drain segment.

As shown in FIG. 2, in certain embodiments, the drain body may have a height of between 24 and 48 inches. The passageway may have a cross section width of between 12 and 36 inches. Alternatively, a person of skill in the art would recognize that other dimensions may be used depending on the system's needs for a particular application. Additionally, the slot opening may be set into a top surface of the drain body wherein say top surface slopes inward from both lengthwise sides to more effectively direct fluid flow into the slot opening.

In some embodiments, a galvanized steel slot is secured within said slot opening 330 wherein said galvanized steel slot may comprise a plurality of galvanized steel plates configured to direct fluid to flow into said passageway 320. A first end of each plate of said plurality of galvanized steel plates may be substantially flush with the top surface of the drain body 310, and a second end of said each of said plurality of slots may extend downward toward said interior volume. A person of skill in the art would appreciate that the slot may be composed of different materials based on the specific requirements of an application of the presently described system.

As depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, in some embodiments, the passageway 320 may be configured to be substantially pentagonal in shape though persons skilled in the art would recognize that passageway 320 may be configured in other shapes should a system's needs benefit from such a configuration. Each drain segment may also be configured to interlock with other drain segments. This may be achieved by forming a first locking section 340 into a first end of the drain body of a first drain segment and forming a second locking section 350 into a second end of said drain body of said first drain segment such that said second locking section 350 may form a substantial seal when engaged with a first locking section (that resembles first locking section 340) of a similarly formed drain segment as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring back to FIG. 3, in further embodiments, anchor points 360 may also be recessed into the two lengthwise side surfaces of the drain body 310 that are adjacent to the top surface. These anchor points 360 facilitate installation of the drainage system segment by allowing for easy lifting of the drain segment.

It should be understood that any description and drawings are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but to the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and are for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as examples of embodiments. Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may be reversed or omitted, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A slotted drain system comprising: a first drain segment, wherein said first drain segment comprises: a first drain body; a first passageway within and defined by said first drain body; and a first slot opening formed into said first drain body that provides access to said first passageway from outside said first drain body.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said first drain body is monolithic and formed from pre-cast, steel-reinforced concrete.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein said first passageway is substantially pentagonal in shape.
 4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a galvanized steel slot, wherein said galvanized steel slot is inserted into and secured within said first slot opening.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein said first slot opening is formed into a first top surface of said first drain body.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one anchor point is formed into a first side surface of said first drain body.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein said first drain body further comprises a first locking section, said first locking section being formed at a first end of said first drain body, and said first locking section being configured for engagement with a corresponding second locking section of a second drain body.
 8. A slotted drain system comprising: a first drain segment, wherein said first drain segment comprises: a first monolithic drain body composed of pre-cast, steel-reinforced concrete; a first passageway within and defined by said first monolithic drain body; and a first slot opening formed into said first monolithic drain body that provides access to said first passageway from outside said first monolithic drain body.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein said first passageway is substantially pentagonal in shape.
 10. The system of claim 8 further comprising a galvanized steel slot, wherein said galvanized steel slot is inserted into and secured within said first slot opening.
 11. The system of claim 8 wherein said first slot opening is formed into a first top surface of said first monolithic drain body.
 12. The system of claim 8 wherein at least one anchor point is formed into a first side surface of said first monolithic drain body.
 13. The system of claim 8 wherein said first monolithic drain body further comprises a first locking section, said first locking section being formed at a first end of said first monolithic drain body, and said first locking section being configured for engagement with a corresponding second locking section of a second monolithic drain body.
 14. A method for manufacturing a slotted drain system comprising: fabricating a pre-cast first drain segment from steel-reinforced concrete, wherein said pre-cast first drain segment comprises: a monolithic first drain body; a first passageway within and defined by said monolithic first drain body; and a first slot opening formed into said monolithic first drain body that provides access to said first passageway from outside said monolithic first drain body.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein said first passageway is substantially pentagonal in shape.
 16. The method of claim 14 further comprising inserting into said first slot opening a galvanized steel slot, wherein said galvanized steel slot is secured therein.
 17. The method of claim 14 wherein said first slot opening is formed into a first top surface of said monolithic first drain body.
 18. The method of claim 14 further comprising creating at least one anchor point in a first side surface of said monolithic first drain body.
 19. The method of claim 14 wherein said first drain body further comprises a monolithic first locking section, said first locking section being formed at a first end of said first drain body, and said first locking section being configured for engagement with a corresponding second locking section of a monolithic second drain body. 